Substrate supporting apparatus, substrate processing apparatus including the same, and substrate processing method

ABSTRACT

A substrate processing method capable of stably loading a substrate regardless of a variation in pressure of a reaction space includes supplying an inert gas; and forming a thin film by sequentially and repeatedly supplying a source gas, supplying a reaction gas, and activating the reaction gas, wherein a center portion of a substrate and a center portion of a susceptor are spaced apart from each other to form a separate space, the reaction space above the substrate and the separate space communicate with each other via one or more channels, an inert gas is introduced to the separate space through the one or more channels during the supplying of the inert gas, and the inert gas prevents pressure imbalance between the separate space and the reaction space during a thin film deposition process.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/252,569 filed on Jan. 18, 2019, which claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0041247, filed on Apr. 9, 2018, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

One or more embodiments relate to a substrate supporting apparatus (e.g., susceptor), a substrate processing apparatus including the substrate supporting apparatus, and a substrate processing method, and more particularly, to a substrate supporting apparatus capable of preventing deposition on a rear surface of a substrate to be processed, a substrate processing apparatus including the substrate supporting apparatus, and a substrate processing method.

2. Description of the Related Art

When performing a substrate process, such as deposition or etching, on a substrate loaded in a reaction space in a semiconductor apparatus, a thin film on a rear surface of the substrate exerts bad influence on subsequent processes due to generation of contaminants such as particles, etc., and degrades yield and device characteristics of a semiconductor device. To address this, there have been attempts to improve adherency between a rear surface of the substrate and a susceptor by adopting an electrostatic chuck (ESC) susceptor according to the related art. However, when processes are performed at high temperature, the substrate or the susceptor supporting the substrate may be deformed due to the high temperature. Then, a processing gas may infiltrate into a gap between the deformed susceptor and the substrate or between the deformed substrate and the susceptor, thereby generating an undesired thin film on the rear surface of the substrate. To address this, an edge contact susceptor (ECS) device that makes edges of the substrate only contact the substrate has been introduced according to the related art, but the substrate may escape from a set position according to a variation in pressure of a reactor, and then, a thin film may be provided on the rear surface of the substrate.

SUMMARY

One or more embodiments include a substrate supporting apparatus capable of preventing a substrate from escaping the substrate supporting apparatus due to a variation in pressure of a reactor during depositing of a thin film in order to prevent a thin film from being deposited on a rear surface of the substrate, a substrate processing apparatus including the substrate supporting apparatus, and a substrate processing method using the substrate processing apparatus.

Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the presented embodiments.

According to one or more embodiments, a substrate supporting apparatus includes: a susceptor main body including an inner portion, a periphery portion, and a concave portion between the inner portion and the periphery portion; and a rim arranged in the concave portion, wherein, when a substrate is mounted on the rim, the rim contacts the substrate within an edge exclusion zone of the substrate, an upper surface of the inner portion is lower than an upper surface of the rim to make a rear surface of the substrate be separate from the inner portion, a first space is formed between the rear surface of the substrate and the inner portion, a second space is formed above the substrate, and one or more channels are formed in at least one of the susceptor main body and the rim, the one or more channels connecting the first space to the second space separately or together with each other.

The one or more channels may be provided between an inner wall and an outer wall of the rim, and the one or more channels may be arranged along a circumference that is spaced apart from a center of the substrate supporting apparatus by a first distance. The first distance may be greater than a radius of the substrate.

The one or more channels may be symmetrically arranged about a center axis of the substrate supporting apparatus.

The one or more channels may include a first sub-channel and a second sub-channel, the first sub-channel may be a through hole which contacts an upper surface of the rim and thus communicates with the second space and extends toward a lower portion of the rim by penetrating through the rim, and the substrate may not be in contact with the first sub-channel. The second sub-channel of the one or more channels may communicate with the first space, and the second sub-channel may have a structure tapered towards the first space. The second sub-channel of the one or more channels may communicate with the first space, and the second sub-channel may be provided in a circumferential direction.

A contact portion between the edge exclusion zone of the substrate and the rim may have a ring shape that is continuously provided along a circumference that is spaced apart from a center of the substrate supporting apparatus by a predetermined distance.

A portion where the one or more channels and the first space meet each other may be spaced apart from a rear surface of the substrate.

According to one or more embodiments, a substrate processing apparatus includes: a reactor wall; a substrate supporting apparatus; a heater block; a gas inlet; a gas supply unit; and an exhaust unit, wherein the substrate supporting apparatus includes a susceptor main body and a rim, the susceptor main body includes an inner portion, a periphery portion, and a concave portion between the inner portion and the periphery portion, and the rim is arranged on the concave portion, when a substrate is mounted on the rim, the rim contacts the substrate within an edge exclusion zone of the substrate, the reactor wall and the periphery portion of the substrate supporting apparatus form a reaction space through face-contact, a separate space is formed between the inner portion and the substrate, and the reaction space and the separate space communicate with each other through one or more channels.

The one or more channels may include a first sub-channel and a second sub-channel, the first sub-channel may be provided in a surface or an inner portion of the reactor wall to communicate with the reaction space above the substrate, the second sub-channel may be provided in a surface or an inner portion of at least one of the susceptor main body and the rim to communicate with the separate space, and the first sub-channel may communicate with the separate space via the second sub-channel. Each of the first sub-channel and the second sub-channel may include a through hole or a groove.

The one or more channels may include a first sub-channel and a second sub-channel, the first sub-channel may be provided in a surface or an inner portion of the rim to communicate with the reaction space, the second sub-channel may be provided in at least one of the susceptor main body and the rim to communicate with the separate space, and the first sub-channel may communicate with the separate space via the second sub-channel. The first sub-channel may include one or more first through holes penetrating through at least a part of the rim, the one or more first through holes may be spaced apart from one another along a first circumference having a first radius on an upper surface of the rim, and the first radius may be greater than a radius of the substrate.

The one or more channels may have a structure tapered towards the separate space.

An inert gas may be introduced from the reaction space to the separate space through the one or more channels before performing a thin film deposition process, and the inert gas introduced before the thin film deposition process may prevent pressure imbalance between the reaction space and the separate space during the deposition of the thin film.

According to one or more embodiments, a substrate processing method includes: supplying an inert gas; and depositing a thin film by sequentially and repeatedly supplying a source gas, supplying a reaction gas, and activating the reaction gas, wherein a center portion of a substrate and a center portion of a susceptor are spaced apart from each other to form a separate space, the reaction space above the substrate and the separate space communicate with each other via one or more channels, the inert gas is introduced to the separate space through the one or more channels during the supplying of the inert gas, and the introduced inert gas prevents pressure imbalance between the separate space and the reaction space during the deposition of the thin film.

A thickness of a film deposited on a rear surface of the substrate during the depositing of the thin film may be controlled by controlling a flow rate of the inert gas introduced into the separate space.

A purge gas may be supplied during the deposition of the thin film, and a flow rate of the purge gas supplied during the deposition of the thin film may be adjusted to make a pressure in the separate space and a pressure in the reaction space be equal to each other.

The introduced inert gas may prevent the source gas and the reaction gas from being introduced into the separate space during the deposition of the thin film.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of a substrate supporting apparatus (e.g., a susceptor main body) according to an embodiment;

FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the substrate supporting apparatus taken along a line A-A′ of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a susceptor main body and a rim are isolated according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2B is a diagram showing a coupled state of the susceptor main body and the rim of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view of a substrate supporting apparatus taken along a line B-B′ of FIG. 2B;

FIG. 2D is a diagram of a substrate mounted on a rim according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2E is a diagram of a rim according to an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a substrate processing apparatus including a substrate supporting apparatus according to an embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a substrate including an edge exclusion zone;

FIG. 5A is a diagram of a rim including one or more grooves according to an embodiment;

FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of a substrate supporting apparatus taken along a line C-C′ of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 5C is a partially enlarged view of a substrate processing apparatus including the substrate supporting apparatus of FIGS. 5A and 5B;

FIG. 6A is a diagram of a substrate supporting apparatus including one or more grooves according to an embodiment;

FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of the substrate supporting apparatus taken along a line D-D′ of FIG. 6A;

FIG. 6C is a partially enlarged view of a substrate processing apparatus including the substrate supporting apparatus of FIGS. 6A and 6B;

FIGS. 7A to 7E are diagrams of a substrate supporting apparatus including a through hole according to an embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a diagram of a substrate supporting apparatus and a reactor wall including a through hole according to an embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a diagram of a substrate supporting apparatus according to an embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for describing a substrate processing method using a substrate processing apparatus according to an embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a thickness of a SiO₂ layer on a rear surface of a substrate when processes are performed by using the substrate supporting apparatus of FIGS. 5A to 5C; and

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of a substrate used in processes illustrated in FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. In this regard, the present embodiments may have different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the descriptions set forth herein. Accordingly, the embodiments are merely described below, by referring to the figures, to explain aspects of the present description.

Hereinafter, one or more embodiments of the present inventive concept will be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings.

Embodiments of the present disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplary embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to one of ordinary skill in the art.

The terms used in the present specification are merely used to describe particular embodiments, and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. An expression used in the singular encompasses the expression of the plural, unless it has a clearly different meaning in the context. In the present specification, it is to be understood that the terms such as “including,” “having,” and “comprising” are intended to indicate the existence of the features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof disclosed in the specification, and are not intended to preclude the possibility that one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof may exist or may be added. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

It will be understood that although the terms “first” and “second” are used herein to describe various members, regions, and/or portions, these members, regions, and/or portions should not be limited by these terms. The terms do not mean a particular order, up and down, or superiority, and are used only for distinguishing one member, component, region, laver, or portion from another member, component, region, layer, or portion. Thus, a first member, component, region, layer, or portion which will be described may also refer to a second member, component, region, layer, or portion, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the attached drawings which schematically illustrate the embodiments of the present disclosure. In the drawings, for example, according to the manufacturing technology and/or tolerance, variations from the illustrated shape may be expected. Thus, the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are not be interpreted to be limited by a particular shape that is illustrated in the drawings and include a change in the shape occurring, for example, during manufacturing.

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of a substrate supporting apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the substrate supporting apparatus taken along a line A-A′ of FIG. 1A.

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the substrate supporting apparatus may include a susceptor main body 13. The susceptor main body 13 includes an inner portion 1, a periphery portion 3, and a concave portion 2 provided between the inner portion 1 and the periphery portion 3. As described later, a rim may be arranged on the concave portion 2.

The inner portion 1 and the concave portion 2 form a first stepped portion 10. The first stepped portion 10 may be provided between the inner portion 1 and the concave portion 2. The periphery portion 3 and the concave portion 2 form a second stepped portion 20. The second stepped portion 20 may be provided between the periphery portion 3 and the concave portion 2. The rim may be arranged between the first stepped portion 10 and the second stepped portion 20.

In one embodiment, the susceptor main body 13 includes one continuous component, and may generally have a circular and a disc shape. However, the shape of the susceptor main body 13 is not limited thereto, and the susceptor main body 13 may have a shape corresponding to a shape of a substrate to be processed. For example, when a substrate to be processed is a display substrate having a square shape, the susceptor main body 13 may have a square shape so as to accommodate the square substrate.

The susceptor main body 13 may be adjusted and configured to a size capable of accommodating a semiconductor substrate having an arbitrary diameter, for example, a substrate of 150 mm, 200 mm, and 300 mm diameters. Also, the susceptor main body 13 may include a metal material such as aluminum or an alloy, or a material having high thermal conductivity, in order to sufficiently transfer heat to the substrate from a heater block (not shown) supporting the susceptor main body 13.

The inner portion 1 may include at least one substrate supporting pin hole 22 for loading and supporting the substrate. Also, the inner portion 1 may include at least one susceptor main body fixing pin hole 23 in order to fix the susceptor main body 13 to the heater block (not shown).

The periphery portion 3 may have a flat surface in order to form a reaction space through face-contact and face-sealing with a reactor wall of a reactor. The inner portion 1 may have a flat surface in order to evenly transfer the heat from the heater block (not shown) to the substrate.

In addition, a structure of the susceptor main body 13 is not limited to the example shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. For example, the concave portion 2 is shown to have a flat surface, but the concave portion 2 may have a rounded surface. Also, the inner portion 1 may have a concave surface. When the substrate to be processed is deformed through a high-temperature process, the substrate to be processed may have a predetermined curvature, and then, a curvature of the concave surface in the inner portion 1 may correspond to the curvature of the substrate that is deformed through the high-temperature process. Accordingly, the heat may be evenly transferred to the substrate.

FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the susceptor main body 13 and a rim 4 are separated from each other according to an embodiment. FIG. 2B is a diagram showing a coupled state of the susceptor main body 13 and the rim 4 of FIG. 2A. FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view of a substrate supporting apparatus taken along a line B-B′ of FIG. 2B. FIG. 2D is a diagram of a substrate mounted on the rim 4 according to an embodiment. FIG. 2E is a diagram of the rim 4 according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 2A to 2C, the substrate supporting apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may include the susceptor main body 13 and the rim 4 for supporting a substrate. As shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C, the rim 4 may be mounted on the concave portion 2. A substrate to be processed may be mounted on the rim 4.

The rim 4 may be arranged between the inner portion 1 and the periphery portion 3 of the susceptor main body 13. The rim 4 may be spaced apart from the inner portion 1, so that the susceptor main body 13 may maintain its shape even when the inner portion 1 or the rim 4 thermally expands in a horizontal direction at high temperature. For example, as shown in FIG. 2C, the first stepped portion 10 and the rim 4 may be separated from each other by a distance W.

The susceptor main body 13 and the rim 4 may include different materials from each other. For example, the susceptor main body 13 may include a metal material such as aluminum or an alloy, or a material having high thermal conductivity in order to sufficiently transfer heat to the substrate. The rim 4 may include an insulator. In detail, the rim 4 may include a material having a low thermal expansion rate (e.g., ceramic) in order to stably support the substrate even at high temperature.

The rim 4 may have a donut shape having a rectangular cross-section, but is not limited thereto. For example, when the concave portion 2 has a round concave surface, the rim 4 may have a convex bottom surface.

According to another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2E, the rim 4 may have a third stepped portion S formed toward the inner portion 1 on an inner side of an upper surface of the rim 4. In this case, a substrate 5 may be mounted on the inner side of the third stepped portion S. In the embodiment, the third stepped portion S may further include a pad P, and the substrate 5 may be mounted on the pad P. An edge portion of the substrate 5 (e.g., edge exclusion zone (Z of FIG. 4)) may be mounted on the pad P. The third stepped portion S may prevent sliding or escaping of the substrate 5 when loading the substrate 5.

The susceptor main body 13 and/or the rim 4 may be adjusted and configured to a size capable of accommodating a semiconductor substrate having an arbitrary diameter, for example, a substrate of 150 mm, 200 mm, and 300 mm diameters.

The rim 4 may be detachable from the susceptor main body 13. In more detail, an outer circumferential surface of the rim 4 and an inner circumferential surface of the concave portion in the susceptor main body 13 are mechanically coupled to each other (e.g., via a frictional force between the outer circumferential surface and the inner circumferential surface), and then, the rim 4 may be loaded on the susceptor main body 13. According to another embodiment, the rim 4 may be replaced with another rim having a different width and/or a different height. FIGS. 2A to 2C show that the susceptor main body 13 and the rim 4 are separable, but may be integrally provided.

According to the embodiment, a height of the inner portion 1 (that is, a height a of the first stepped portion 10) may be less than a height b of the rim 4. That is, an upper surface of the inner portion 1 may be lower than an upper surface of the rim 4. The above structure makes a rear surface of the substrate 5 and the inner portion 1 be spaced apart from each other, when the substrate 5 is mounted on the rim 4, as shown in FIG. 2D.

A distance (b-a) between the substrate 5 and the inner portion 1 may be, for example, 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm, so that thermal radiation from a heater block 32 (see FIG. 3) to the substrate 5 may be sufficiently performed. In an example embodiment, the distance (b-a) may be about 0.3 mm.

Also, a height of the periphery portion 3 of the susceptor main body 13, that is, a height c of the second stepped portion 20, may be less than the height b of the rim 4. As such, backflow of a contamination source (e.g., contamination particles) generated when a processing gas infiltrates into a contact surface between a reactor wall 39 (see FIG. 3) and the periphery portion 3 or particles remaining on the contact surface into the reaction space (reference numeral R of FIG. 3) may be prevented.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the substrate 5 including an edge exclusion zone Z.

The substrate 5 in FIG. 2E may include an edge exclusion zone Z at an edge thereof, and the edge exclusion zone Z may be distinguished from the other regions of the substrate 5 in that uniform deposition is not necessary because the edge exclusion zone Z is not used as a die (a device forming region). In general, the edge exclusion zone Z is provided within 2 mm to 3 mm from the edge of a substrate. In the present disclosure, it is assumed that the edge exclusion zone Z of the substrate 5 has a width M.

FIG. 2D shows that the substrate 5 of FIG. 4 is mounted on the rim 4 according to the embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the susceptor main body 13 (see FIG. 2A) and the rim 4 respectively include materials having different heat conduction rates from each other, and the substrate 5 and the inner portion 1 are spaced apart from each other. As such, the substrate 5 may have different temperatures at a portion contacting the rim 4 and a portion not contacting the rim 4. Since a deposition process is generally sensitive to the temperature of the substrate 5, the unevenness in the temperature may affect the deposition process. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 2D, when the substrate 5 is mounted on the rim 4, the rim 4 may contact the substrate 5 only within the edge exclusion zone Z. As such, temperature uniformity may be ensured within entire area of the substrate 5, except for the edge exclusion zone Z.

Korean Patent Application No. 10-2017-0066979 discloses a detailed embodiment of an edge contact susceptor (ECS) including the susceptor main body 13 and the rim 4.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a substrate processing apparatus including a substrate supporting apparatus according to an embodiment.

Examples of the substrate processing apparatus described with reference to the present embodiment may include a semiconductor or display substrate deposition apparatus, but are not limited thereto. The substrate processing apparatus may be any kind of apparatus that is necessary for performing deposition of a material for forming a thin film, or may be an apparatus for evenly supplying a raw material for etching or polishing a material. Hereinafter, descriptions will be provided assuming that the substrate processing apparatus is a semiconductor deposition apparatus.

The substrate processing apparatus according to the embodiment includes the reactor 38, the reactor wall 39, a substrate supporting apparatus including the susceptor main body 13 and the rim 4, a heater block 32, a gas inlet 33, gas supply units 34 and 35, and an exhaust portion 31.

Referring to FIG. 3, the substrate supporting apparatus is provided in the reactor 38. In the embodiment, the substrate supporting apparatus may be, for example, the substrate supporting apparatus illustrated with reference to FIGS. 2A to 2D. The susceptor main body 13 includes the inner portion 1, the periphery portion 3, and the concave portion 2 provided between the inner portion 1 and the periphery portion 3, and the rim 4 is arranged on the concave portion 2. As shown in FIG. 3, the upper surface of the inner portion 1 is lower than that of the rim 4, and as such, the rear surface of the substrate 5 is spaced apart from the inner portion 1. Accordingly, a separate space G is provided between the rear surface of the substrate 5 and the inner portion 1.

The reactor 38 is a reactor in which an atomic layer deposition (ALD) or a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process or the like is performed. The reactor wall 39 and the periphery portion 3 of the substrate supporting apparatus form a reaction space R through face-contact and face-sealing. The rim 4 may have a height that is greater than that of the periphery portion 3 in order to prevent backflow of a contamination source that is generated when a processing gas infiltrates into a contact surface between the reactor wall 39 and the periphery portion 3 into the reaction space R.

The susceptor main body 13 and the heater block 32 may be configured to be connected to a device (not shown) provided at a side of the heater block 32, so as to be moved together for loading/unloading of the substrate 5. For example, the susceptor main body 13 and the heater block 32 may be connected to a device capable of elevating/descending the susceptor main body 13 and the heater block 32, and then, may generate an entrance, through which the substrate 5 may be loaded or unloaded, between the reactor wall 39 and the susceptor main body 13. In FIG. 3, the substrate 5 is loaded on the rim 4. According to an embodiment, the reactor 38 may have an upward exhaust structure, but is not limited thereto.

The heater block 32 includes a hot wire or element, and supplies heat to the susceptor main body 13 and the substrate 5. The gas supply unit (34, 35) may include a gas channel 34, a gas supply plate 35, and a gas flow channel 36. The gas flow channel 36 may be provided between the gas channel 34 and the gas supply plate 35. The processing gas introduced through the gas inlet 33 may be supplied to the reaction space R and the substrate 5 via the gas flow channel 36 and the gas supply plate 35. The gas supply plate 35 may be a showerhead, and a base of the shower head may include a plurality of gas supply holes provided to supply the processing gas (e.g., in a vertical direction). The processing gas supplied onto the substrate 5 may react chemically with the substrate 5 or with gases, and then, may form a thin film on the substrate 5 or may etch the thin film.

The exhaust portion may include an exhaust channel 31 and an exhaust port 37. In the reaction space R, a remaining gas or an unreacted gas after the chemical reaction with the substrate 5 may be exhausted to the outside through the exhaust channel 31 provided in the reactor wall 39, the exhaust port 37, and an exhaust pump (not shown). The exhaust channel 31 may be continuously provided along with the reactor wall 39 in the reactor wall 39. An upper portion of the exhaust channel 31 may be partially connected to the exhaust port 37.

The gas channel 34 and the gas supply plate 35 may be made of a metal material, and they are mechanically connected to each other via a coupling unit such as a screw to perform as an electrode during a plasma process. During the plasma process, a radio frequency (RF) power source may be electrically connected to the showerhead functioning as one electrode. In detail, an RF load 40 connected to the RF power source may penetrate through the reactor wall 39 to be connected to the gas channel 34. In this case, the susceptor main body 13 may function as an opposite electrode. In some embodiments, for example, in order to prevent the discharge of plasma power applied during the plasma process, an insulator (not shown) may be inserted between the RF load 40 and the reactor wall 39 and/or between the gas channel 34 and the reactor wall 39 to form a stack structure, and thus, leakage of the plasma power may be prevented and efficiency of the plasma process may be improved.

Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0152239 discloses in detail a detailed embodiment of the gas inlet and a gas outlet of the reactor.

Here, the gas introduced into the reaction space R via the gas supply plate 35 has a fluctuated flow rate according to stages of the substrate processing operation, and accordingly, pressure varies. For example, in a case of an atomic layer deposition process, a pressure difference of about 3 Torr to about 10 Torr is generated between the reaction space R and the separate space G based on the substrate 5 during the substrate processing operation, because of frequent exchange of gases. Due to the pressure difference, the substrate 5 may be unloaded from the substrate supporting apparatus or may be dislocated from an original position during the process. Accordingly, a gap may be generated between the substrate 5 and the rim 4, and the processing gas infiltrates into the gap and causes an undesired thin film on a rear surface of the substrate 5. The film formed on the rear surface of the substrate 5 may not only act as a contamination source in the reactor, but also contaminates the apparatus in post-processes. Thus, yield and device characteristics of the semiconductor device may degrade. Therefore, a method of removing the pressure difference between the reaction space R and the separate space G is necessary.

To address the above issues, the present disclosure introduces a channel connecting the reaction space and the separate space to each other. Such above channel may be provided in or on a surface of at least one of the susceptor main body 13, the rim 4, or the reactor wall 39. Hereinafter, a substrate supporting apparatus and a substrate processing apparatus according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to FIGS. 5A to 9. Also, a substrate supporting apparatus and a substrate processing method capable of maintaining a constant pressure in a separate space by injecting an inert gas into the separate space will be described below.

FIG. 5A is a diagram of the rim 4 including one or more grooves according to an embodiment.

One or more channels may be provided on a surface of the rim 4 and/or between an inner wall W_(I) and an outer wall W_(O) of the rim 4. The one or more channels may include a first sub-channel 50 and a second sub-channel 51. In FIG. 5A, the first sub-channel 50 is a groove. The first groove 50 may be provided in the outer wall W_(O) of the rim 4. The first groove 50 may extend from an upper surface U to a lower surface L of the rim 4 in the outer wall W_(O) of the rim 4. A plurality of first grooves 50 may be arranged to be spaced apart from one another along a circumferential direction of the outer wall W_(O) of the rim 4. The plurality of first grooves 50 may be symmetrically arranged about a center axis of the rim 4 or a center axis of the substrate supporting apparatus.

Also, a second sub-channel 51 may be provided on a surface contacting the concave portion of the susceptor main body (that is, the lower surface L of the rim 4). In FIG. 5A, the second sub-channel 51 is a groove. The second groove 51 may extend from the outer wall W_(O) to the inner wall W_(I) of the rim 4 in the lower surface L of the rim 4. A plurality of second grooves 51 may be arranged to be spaced apart from one another along a circumferential direction of the lower surface L of the rim 4. The plurality of second grooves 51 may be symmetrically arranged about a center axis of the rim 4 or a center axis of the substrate supporting apparatus. Owing to the symmetric arrangement, the gas in the reaction space R may be evenly introduced to the separate space G via the first grooves 50 and the second grooves 51, as will be described later. The first groove 50 and the second groove 51 may be engaged to be connected to each other.

FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the rim 4 of FIG. 5A loaded in the susceptor main body 13, taken along a line C-C′ of FIG. 5A.

Referring to FIG. 5B, the substrate supporting apparatus according to the embodiment may include the susceptor main body 13 and the rim 4 for supporting the substrate 5. The rim 4 may be mounted in the concave portion. The substrate 5 may be mounted on the rim 4. An upper surface of the inner portion 1 may be lower than an upper surface of the rim 4. The above structure makes a rear surface of the substrate 5 be spaced apart from the inner portion 1 when the substrate 5 is mounted on the rim 4. Accordingly, a first space G1 is generated between the rear surface of the substrate 5 and the inner portion 1. A second space R1 is generated on an upper portion of the substrate 5.

One or more channels may be provided on a surface of the rim 4. The one or more channels may connect the first space G1 to the second space R1 separately or together with one another.

In more detail, the one or more channels may include the first sub-channel 50 and the second sub-channel 51. The first sub-channel 50 may extend from the upper surface to the lower surface of the rim 4 in the outer wall W_(O) of the rim 4, and may communicate with the second space R1. The second sub-channel 51 extends from the outer wall W_(O) to the inner wall W_(I) of the rim 4 in the lower surface of the rim 4, and may communicate with the first space G1. The first sub-channel 50 may communicate with the second sub-channel 51. The first sub-channel 50 may communicate with the first space G1 via the second sub-channel 51. As such, the first sub-channel 50 connects the first space G1 to the second space R1, together with the second sub-channel 51.

By adjusting the numbers of first sub-channels 50 and second sub-channels 51 and/or a width of each channel, a flow rate of the gas introduced from the second space R1 to the first space G1 may be adjusted.

A width h1 of the first sub-channel 50 and a width h2 of the second sub-channel 51 may be less than an interval between the substrate 5 and the inner portion 1. Thus, it is difficult for the gas introduced from the second space R1 into the first space G1 through the first sub-channel 50 and the second sub-channel 51, to be discharged to the second space R1 again through the above first and second sub-channels 50 and 51. As such, as will be described later with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, an inert gas supplied before the thin film deposition process is introduced into the first space G1 through the above first and second sub-channels 50 and 51, and the inert gas in the first space G1 is not substantially discharged to the second space R1, but remains in the first space G1. The remaining inert gas may prevent pressure imbalance between the first space G1 and the second space R1 during the deposition of the thin film.

FIG. 5C is a partially enlarged view of a substrate processing apparatus including the substrate supporting apparatus of FIGS. 5A and 5B.

Referring to FIG. 5C, the reactor wall 39 and the periphery portion 3 of the substrate supporting apparatus generates the reaction space R through face-contact and face-sealing. The rear surface of the substrate 5 loaded on the rim 4 of the substrate supporting apparatus is spaced apart from the inner portion 1, and accordingly, the separate space G is generated between the rear surface of the substrate 5 and the inner portion 1.

One or more channels may be provided between the rim 4 and the susceptor main body 13 and between the rim 4 and the reactor wall 39. The one or more channels connect the separate space G to the reaction space R. In the present embodiment, the one or more channels may be grooves.

The one or more channels may include the first sub-channel 50 and the second sub-channel 51. The first sub-channel 50 may be provided between the rim 4 and the reactor wall 39, and may communicate with the reaction space R. The second sub-channel 51 may be provided between the rim 4 and the susceptor main body 13, and may communicate with the separate space G. The reaction space R may communicate with the separate space G via the first sub-channel 50 and the second sub-channel 51.

FIG. 6A is a diagram of a substrate supporting apparatus including one or more grooves according to an embodiment. The substrate supporting apparatus according to the embodiment may be a modified example of the substrate supporting apparatus according to the above-described embodiments. Hereinafter, descriptions about the elements described above will be omitted. FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of the substrate supporting apparatus taken along a line D-D′ of FIG. 6A, and in FIG. 6B, a substrate is mounted on a rim.

Unlike the substrate supporting apparatus illustrated with reference to FIGS. 5A to 5C, in FIGS. 6A and 6B, one or more channels connecting the first space G1 and the second space R1 may be provided in the susceptor main body 13. The one or more channels may include a first sub-channel 60 and a second sub-channel 61. In FIGS. 6A and 6B, the first sub-channel 60 and the second sub-channel 61 are grooves. The first sub-channel 60 may be provided in an internal wall of the periphery portion 3 in the susceptor main body 13, that is, between the rim 4 and the periphery portion 3. The first sub-channel 60 may extend from an upper surface of the periphery portion 3 to an upper surface of the concave portion 2 along the internal wall of the periphery portion 3. The first sub-channel 60 may communicate with the second space R1. A plurality of first sub-channels 60 may be arranged to be spaced apart from one another in the internal wall of the periphery portion 3 along a circumferential direction. The first sub-channels 60 may be symmetrically arranged about a center axis of the substrate supporting apparatus.

The second sub-channel 61 may be provided on an upper surface of the concave portion 2 of the susceptor main body, that is, between the rim 4 and the concave portion 2. The second sub-channel 61 may extend from the internal wall of the periphery portion 3 i.e. the second stepped portion 20 to the first stepped portion 10 on the upper surface of the concave portion 2. A plurality of second sub-channels 61 may be arranged to be spaced apart from one another on the upper surface of the concave portion 2 along a circumferential direction. The second sub-channels 61 may be symmetrically arranged about a center axis of the substrate supporting apparatus. The second sub-channel 61 may communicate with the first space G1.

The first sub-channel 60 and the second sub-channel 61 may be engaged with each other. The first sub-channel 60 may communicate with the first space G1 via the second sub-channel 61. As such, the first sub-channel 60 connects the first space G1 to the second space R1, together with the second sub-channel 61.

A width h3 of the first sub-channel 60 and a width h4 of the second sub-channel 61 may be much less than an interval between the substrate 5 and the inner portion 1. Thus, as described above, it is difficult for the gas introduced from the second space R1 into the first space G1 through the first sub-channel 60 and the second sub-channel 61, to be discharged to the second space R1 again through the above first and second sub-channels 60 and 61. Therefore, as will be described later with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, the inert gas introduced in the first space G1 before a substrate treatment process may prevent pressure imbalance between the first space G1 and the second space R1 during a thin film process.

FIG. 6C is a partially enlarged view of a substrate processing apparatus including the substrate supporting apparatus of FIGS. 6A and 6B.

Referring to FIG. 6C, the reactor wall 39 and the periphery portion 3 of the substrate supporting apparatus generate the reaction space R through face-contact and face-sealing. The rear surface of the substrate 5 loaded on the rim 4 of the substrate supporting apparatus is spaced apart from the inner portion 1, and accordingly, the separate space G is generated between the rear surface of the substrate 5 and the inner portion 1.

One or more channels may be provided between the rim 4 and the susceptor main body 13 and between the rim 4 and the reactor wall 39. The one or more channels connect the separate space G to the reaction space R. In the present embodiment, the one or more channels may be grooves.

In detail, as described above with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the first sub-channel 60 and the second sub-channel 61 may be provided between the rim 4 and the susceptor main body 13. The second sub-channel 61 may communicate with the separate space G, and may also communicate with the first sub-channel 60. In addition, a third sub-channel 62 may be provided between the rim 4 and the reactor wall 39. In particular, the third sub-channel 62 may be a groove formed on the surface of the reactor wall 39. The third sub-channel 62 may communicate with the reaction space R and the first sub-channel 60. Accordingly, the first sub-channel 60, the second sub-channel 61, and the third sub-channel 62 may connect the reaction space R and the separate space G to each other. In the present embodiment, the first sub-channel 60, the second sub-channel 61, and the third sub-channel 62 are grooves.

FIGS. 7A to 7E are diagrams of a substrate supporting apparatus including a through hole according to an embodiment. The substrate supporting apparatus according to the embodiment may be a modified example of the substrate supporting apparatus according to the above-described embodiments. Hereinafter, descriptions about the elements described above will be omitted. FIG. 7A is a top view of the rim 4 including a channel. FIGS. 7B to 7E are diagrams of modified examples of the substrate supporting apparatus of FIG. 7A. In FIGS. 7B to 7E, the substrate 5 is mounted on the rim 4.

Referring to FIG. 7A, one or more channels connecting the first space G1 to the second space R1 may be provided between the inner wall W_(I) and the outer wall W_(O) of the rim 4. The plurality of channels may be arranged to be spaced apart from one another on an upper surface of the rim 4, along a circumference that is distant from a center of the substrate supporting apparatus by a first distance (in this case, D1). The first distance D1 may be greater than a radius of the substrate 5. As such, when the substrate 5 is mounted on the rim, the substrate 5 may not contact the channels. The one or more channels may be symmetrically arranged about a center axis of the substrate supporting apparatus. Unlike the substrate supporting apparatus described above, in the example of FIG. 7A, the one or more channels are through holes that penetrate through at least a part of the rim 4.

FIG. 7B shows an example of the substrate supporting apparatus of FIG. 7A, that is, a cross-sectional view of the substrate supporting apparatus taken along a line E-E′ of FIG. 7A.

Referring to FIG. 7B, the channels of FIG. 7A may be provided between the inner wall W_(I) and the outer wall W_(O) of the rim 4. The one or more channels may include a first sub-channel 70 and a second sub-channel 71. In the present embodiment, the first sub-channel 70 and the second sub-channel 71 are through holes. The first sub-channel 70 may be provided between the inner wall W_(I) and the outer wall W_(O) of the rim 4. In detail, the first sub-channel 70 communicates with the second space R1 while contacting the upper surface of the rim 4, and may extend downward by penetrating through the rim 4. A plurality of first sub-channels 70 may be arranged along a circumference spaced a first distance D1 from a center of the substrate supporting apparatus. The first sub-channels 70 may be symmetrically arranged about a center axis of the substrate supporting apparatus.

The first distance D1 may be greater than a radius of the substrate, and thus, the substrate 5 may not contact the first sub-channels 70 when the substrate 5 is mounted on the rim 4. In a case where the substrate 5 contacts the first sub-channels 70, the gas introduced from the reaction space R1 via the first sub-channels 70 may be directly deposited on a rear surface of the substrate 5. In general, when the substrate 5 is mounted on the rim 4, the rim 4 may only contact the substrate 5 within the edge exclusion zone Z of the substrate 5. Therefore, in order for the substrate 5 not to contact the first sub-channels 70, as shown in FIG. 7B, a second distance dl from the inner wall W of the rim 4 to the first sub-channel 70 is greater than the width M of the edge exclusion zone Z.

In the additional embodiment, in order to prevent the processing gas in the reaction space R1 from infiltrating into a rear portion of the substrate 5, the substrate 5 may not contact the first sub-channel 70. Also, in order to prevent the processing gas in the reaction space R1 from directly infiltrating to the rear surface of the substrate 5, a contact portion between the edge exclusion zone of the substrate 5 and the rim 4 may be continuously provided. In detail, the contact portion between the edge exclusion zone of the substrate 5 and the rim 4 may be continuously formed along a circumference that is distant from a center of the substrate supporting apparatus by a predetermined distance. The contact portion would configure a contact surface of a ring shape having a predetermined width along the upper surface of the rim 4. The contact surface may function as a wall preventing the processing gas in the reaction space R1 from directly infiltrating to the rear surface of the substrate 5.

The second sub-channel 71 may communicate with the first sub-channel 70, and may extend in a lateral direction of the rim 4 towards the first space G1. In detail, the second sub-channel 71 communicates with the first space G1 from the inner wall W of the rim 4, and may extend in a lateral direction of the rim 4 by penetrating through the rim 4. The first sub-channel 70 may communicate with the first space G1 via the second sub-channel 71. A plurality of second sub-channels 71 may be arranged along a circumference spaced apart from a center of the substrate supporting apparatus. In a modified example, the second sub-channels 71 may be continuously provided in a circumferential direction along the circumference spaced apart from the center of the substrate supporting apparatus. As such, the gas may be evenly introduced into the first space G1 via the first sub-channel 70 and the second sub-channel 71.

In the example of FIG. 7B, the second sub-channel 71 extends along the lower surface of the rim 4. Accordingly, the second sub-channel 71 may contact the first space G1 at a lowermost part of the rim 4. In the modified example, as shown in FIG. 7C, the second sub-channel 71 may be provided separate from the lower surface of the rim 4. In this case, the first sub-channel 70 may penetrate through at least a part of the rim 4. A portion where the second sub-channel 71 and the first space G1 meet each other (X1 of FIG. 7C) may be separate from the rear surface of the substrate 5 so that the second sub-channel 71 does not contact the substrate 5. The channel may have a long length and/or have a complicated structure, and thus, the gas introduced to the first space G1 through the channel may not be discharged to the second space R1 through the channel. Therefore, the substrate supporting apparatus of FIG. 7B having a longer channel than that of the substrate supporting apparatus of FIG. 7C may be widely used. In an additional modified example, as shown in FIG. 7D, the second sub-channel 71 may have a tapering structure (X2 of FIG. 7D) towards the first space G1, so that the gas introduced into the first space G1 through the channel may not be introduced to the channel again.

A width h5 of the first sub-channel 70 and a width h6 of the second sub-channel 71 may be much less than a separate distance between the substrate 5 and the inner portion 1. Thus, as described above, it is difficult for the gas introduced from the second space R1 into the first space G1 through the first sub-channel 70 and the second sub-channel 71 to be discharged to the second space R1 again through the above first and second sub-channels 70 and 71. Therefore, as will be described later with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, the inert gas introduced in the first space G1 before a substrate treatment process may prevent pressure imbalance between the first space G1 and the second space R1 during the deposition of a thin film.

In the present embodiment, the first sub-channel 70 and the second sub-channel 71 are shown as through holes that penetrate through the rim 4, but the first sub-channel 70 and/or the second sub-channel 71 may have different shapes. For example, the first sub-channel 70 may be a through hole penetrating through the rim 4, and the second sub-channel 71 may be a groove formed in the lower surface of the rim 4.

FIG. 7E shows an example of the substrate supporting apparatus of FIG. 7A, that is, a cross-sectional view of the substrate supporting apparatus taken along a line E-E′ of FIG. 7A.

Referring to FIG. 7E, channels connecting the first space G1 and the second space R1 may include a first sub-channel 70 and a second sub-channel 71. In the present embodiment, the first sub-channel 70 and the second sub-channel 71 are through holes. The first sub-channel 70 may be provided between the inner wall W_(I) and the outer wall W_(O) of the rim 4. In detail, the first sub-channel 70 contacts the upper surface of the rim 4 and thus communicates with the second space R1, and may extend to the lower surface of the rim 4 by penetrating through the rim 4.

The second sub-channel 71 may be a through hole that communicates with the first sub-channel 70 and communicates with the first space G1 by penetrating through the concave portion of the susceptor main body. As described above, the rim 4 may be separated from the first stepped portion 10 by a distance W. In this case, the concave portion 2 may include a portion X4 contacting the rim 4 and a portion X5 not contacting the rim 4. The portion X5 that does not contact the rim 4 may contact the first space G1. The second sub-channel 71 communicates with the first sub-channel 70 at the portion X4 contacting the rim 4, and may extend to the portion X5 not contacting the rim 4 by penetrating through the concave portion 2 of the susceptor main body to communicate with the first space G1. The first sub-channel 70 and the second sub-channel 71 may connect the first space G1 to the second space R1 together.

As described above, the channel may have a long length and/or have a complicated structure, and thus, the gas introduced to the first space G1 through the channel may not be discharged to the second space R1 through the channel. Therefore, the substrate supporting apparatus of FIG. 7E having a longer channel and a more complicated channel structure than those of the substrate supporting apparatuses shown in FIGS. 7B and 7C may be widely used.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of a substrate supporting apparatus and the reactor wall 39 including a through hole according to an embodiment. The substrate supporting apparatus and the substrate processing apparatus according to the embodiment may be a modified example of the substrate supporting apparatus and the substrate processing apparatus according to the above-described embodiments. Hereinafter, descriptions about the elements described above will be omitted.

In order to connect the reaction space R to the separate space G, one or more channels may be provided on surfaces and/or in inner portion of the susceptor main body 13 and the reactor wall 39. The one or more channels may be grooves and through holes.

In the present embodiment, the one or more channels may include a first sub-channel 80 and a second sub-channel 81. The first sub-channel 80 may be provided in the reactor wall 39. The reactor wall 39 may include a portion X6 contacting the rim 4 and a portion X7 not contacting the rim 4. The portion X7 not contacting the rim 4 is located on an upper portion of the rim 4. The first sub-channel 80 communicates with the reaction space R by penetrating through the reactor wall 39 in a lateral direction at a location higher than the upper surface of the rim 4 (that is, the portion X7 not contacting the rim 4), and may extend to the upper surface of the periphery portion 3 by penetrating through the reactor wall 39 downward.

The second sub-channel 81 may be provided in the susceptor main body 13. In the present embodiment, the second sub-channel 81 is a through hole provided in the periphery portion 3 and the concave portion 2 of the susceptor main body 13. In detail, the second sub-channel 81 communicates with the first sub-channel 80 at the upper surface of the periphery portion 3. Also, the second sub-channel 81 may extend to the portion X3 of the concave portion 2, where the portion X3 does not contact the rim 4, by penetrating through the periphery portion 3 and the concave portion 2 of the susceptor main body 13, and may communicate with the separate space G. The reaction space R may communicate with the separate space G via the first sub-channel 80 and the second sub-channel 81.

As described above, the channel may have a long length and/or have a complicated structure, and thus, the gas introduced to the first space G1 through the channel may not be discharged to the second space R1 through the channel. Therefore, the substrate processing apparatus of FIG. 8 having a longer channel and a more complicated channel structure than those of the substrate processing apparatuses described with reference to above embodiments may be widely used.

In the present embodiment, the first sub-channel 80 and the second sub-channel 81 are shown as through holes that penetrate through the reactor wall 39 and the susceptor main body 13, but the first sub-channel 80 and/or the second sub-channel 81 may have different shapes. For example, the first sub-channel 80 may be a through hole penetrating through the reactor wall 39, and the second sub-channel 81 may be a groove provided in the surface of the susceptor main body 13.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of a substrate supporting apparatus according to an embodiment. The substrate supporting apparatus and the substrate processing apparatus according to the embodiment may be a modified example of the substrate supporting apparatus and the substrate processing apparatus according to the above-described embodiments. Hereinafter, descriptions about the elements described above will be omitted.

The substrate supporting apparatus illustrated in FIG. 9 does not include a channel for connecting the first space G1 to the second space R2, unlike the substrate supporting apparatus and the substrate processing apparatus described above. Instead, in order to prevent deposition on a rear surface of the substrate 5 and/or in order to supply a gas (e.g., inert gas) to the first space G1 for balancing a pressure with the second space R1, a gas supply unit 90 may be provided. A gas supply channel 92 that is a passage for supplying the gas from the gas supply unit 90 to the first space G1 is provided penetrating through the inner portion 1 of a susceptor main body, and may be connected to the gas supply unit 90. The gas supply channel 92 may be arranged around a center of the inner portion 1 in order to evenly supply the gas to the first space G1. Also, an exhaust channel 93 for exhausting the gas in the first space G1 may be provided in order to prevent the deposition on the rear surface of the substrate and/or to balance pressures between the first and second spaces G1 and R1. The exhaust channel 93 may be provided in the susceptor main body to communicate with the first space G1. In the present embodiment, the exhaust channel 93 may penetrate through the inner portion 1 of the susceptor main body to be connected to an exhaust unit 91. The gas supply unit 90 and the exhaust unit 91 may adjust the gas amount in the first space G1 in order to maintain balance between the pressures of the first space G1 and the second space R1. To do this, a flow controller (not shown) may be respectively added between the gas supply unit 90 and the gas supply channel 92 and between the exhaust unit 91 and the exhaust channel 93, and the flow controller may control a flow rate of the gas supplied to the first space G1 and the pressure in the first space G1 while communicating with a pressure gauge connected to the second space R1 in real-time.

The above disclosure provides a plurality of example embodiments and a plurality of representative advantages of the substrate supporting apparatus (e.g., susceptor) and the substrate processing apparatus. For brief description, a limited number of combinations of related characteristics are only described here. However, one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that a characteristic of an arbitrary example may be combined with a characteristic of another example. Moreover, one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that the advantages are non-restrictive, and a certain advantage may not be or required to be a characteristic of a certain embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for describing a substrate processing method by using a substrate processing apparatus according to an embodiment. The substrate processing method according to the embodiment may be performed by using the substrate supporting apparatus and the substrate processing apparatus according to the above-described embodiments. In particular, the substrate processing method is performed in a state where a reaction space and a separate space are connected to each other via at least one channel. Hereinafter, descriptions about the elements described above will be omitted. Hereinafter, an example in which the substrate processing apparatus of FIG. 5C is used will be described for convenience of description.

Referring to FIG. 10, the substrate processing method may include a substrate loading process (1000), an inert gas supplying process (1010), a source gas supplying process (1020), a reaction gas supplying process (1040), a reaction gas activating process (1050), and a substrate unloading process (1080). The source gas supplying process (1020), the reaction gas supplying process (1040), and the reaction gas activating process (1050) are sequentially and repeatedly performed to deposit a thin film of a desired thickness.

In detail, in operation 1000, the substrate 5 is loaded onto the substrate supporting apparatus in a reactor by using a substrate conveying arm (not shown). In detail, the edge exclusion zone Z (see FIG. 4) of the substrate 5 is mounted on the rim 4, and a center portion of the substrate and the inner portion 1 of the susceptor main body are spaced apart from each other to form a separate space G. The substrate supporting apparatus may be moved downward by an elevating device (not shown) that is provided at a side of the substrate supporting apparatus for loading the substrate 5, and an entrance through which the substrate 5 may be loaded or unloaded may be provided between the reactor wall 39 and the substrate supporting apparatus. The substrate 5 may be carried into the substrate processing apparatus through the entrance. When finishing the loading of the substrate, the substrate supporting apparatus is moved upward by the elevating device, and may surface-contact the reactor wall 39 to form the reaction space R.

Operation 1010 is a pre-process performed before a thin film deposition process, and supplies an inert gas into the reaction space R. For example, the inert gas may be Ar or N₂. The inert gas supplied into the reaction space R may be introduced to the separate space G that is a lower space of the substrate 5 via at least one channel (in this case, the first groove 50 and the second groove 51). Here, the inert gas may be sufficiently introduced until a pressure in the separate space G reaches a desired level. For example, a flow rate of the inert gas may be increased/reduced, or a time for supplying the inert gas may be increased/decreased. For example, the time for supplying inert gas may be 60 seconds. By controlling the flow rate of the inert gas supplied to the reaction space R and/or by changing the number, lengths, and shapes of the channels connecting the reaction space R to the separate space G, the amount of inert gas introduced into the separate space G may be controlled, and accordingly, a thickness of a film deposited on the rear surface of the substrate 5 during the deposition of the thin film may be controlled. As will be described later, the introduced inert gas may prevent pressure imbalance between the separate space G and the reaction space R during the deposition of the thin film, and may prevent a source gas and a reaction gas from being introduced to the separate space during the deposition of the thin film. Also, in operation 1010, a pre-heating of the substrate may be also performed so that a temperature of the substrate 5 reaches a processing temperature before the thin film deposition process.

In operation 1020, the source gas may be supplied to the reaction space R. The source gas may be supplied into the reactor by a carrier gas (e.g., Ar). In the present embodiment, a Si source contains silane groups. For example, the Si source may be at least one of TSA, (SiH3)3N; DSO, (SiH3)2; DSMA, (SiH3)2NMe; DSEA, (SiH3)2NEt; DSIPA, (SiH3)2N(iPr); DSTBA, (SiH3)2N(tBu); DEAS, SiH3NEt2; DIPAS, SiH3N(iPr)2; DTBAS, SiH3N(tBu)2; BDEAS, SiH2(NEt2)2; BDMAS, SiH2(NMe2)2; BTBAS, SiH2(NHtBu)2; BITS, SiH2(NHSiMe3)2; and BEMAS, SiH2[N(Et)(Me)]2. A flow rate of the source gas may be appropriately adjusted according to a desired thin film uniformity. In addition, a purge gas may be supplied in operation 1020. In operation 1020, pressures in the reaction space R and the separate space G may be balanced by adjusting the flow rate of the source gas and/or the purge gas supplied during operation 1020.

In operation 1040, a reaction gas may be supplied to the reaction space R via the gas inlet 33 and the gas supply units 34 and 35. The reaction gas may include oxygen, and may be at least one of O₂, N₂O, and NO₂, or a mixture thereof. In addition, a purge gas may be supplied in operation 1040. In operation 1040, pressures in the reaction space R and the separate space G may be balanced by adjusting the flow rate of the reaction gas and/or the purge gas supplied during operation 1040.

In an additional embodiment, the substrate processing method may further include a purging process 1030 between the source gas supplying process 1020 and the reaction gas supplying process 1040 to purge the source gas. Also, the substrate processing method may further include a purging process 1060 after the reaction gas activating process 1050, in order to purge remaining gas. That is, in order for raw materials (source gas and reaction gas) not to meet each other in a gas phase, once one raw material is supplied, remaining raw material is completely removed from the reactor, and then, another raw material is supplied to the reactor.

The purge gas may be temporarily supplied to the reaction space R (see FIG. 5C) in operation 1030 and/or operation 1060. In an alternative embodiment, the purge gas may be continuously supplied to the reaction space R during the source gas supplying process 1020, the reaction gas supplying process 1040, and the reaction gas activating process 1050. A flow rate of the purge gas supplied to the reaction space R may be adjusted so that a pressure in the separate space G (see FIG. 5C) and a pressure in the reaction space R may be equal to each other. As such, a difference between the pressures in the space above the substrate 5 and the space under the substrate 5 during the process may be reduced, dislocation of the substrate 5 in the reaction space R may be prevented, and deposition on the rear surface of the substrate 5 may be reduced.

In the reaction gas activating process 1050, plasma may be supplied. When the plasma is supplied, a thin film having a high density may be obtained, reactivity among sources is improved and a range of selecting sources increases, and properties of the thin film may be improved so that the thin film may be obtained at low temperature.

Due to the pre-process 1010, the separate space G under the substrate 5 may be filled with the inert gas (e.g., Ar) while the thin film deposition process of operation 1020 to operation 1060 is performed. Therefore, even when the pressure in the reaction space R above the substrate 5 varies depending on supply/exhaust and exchange of the source gas and/or the reaction gas, the pressure difference between the reaction space R and the separate space G may be reduced, and the dislocation of the substrate 5 from the substrate supporting apparatus due to the pressure difference may be prevented. Thus, deposition on the rear surface of the substrate 5 may be reduced. Also, since the separate space G under the substrate 5 is filled with the inert gas while the thin film deposition process is performed, the source gas and/or the reaction gas may be rarely introduced into the separate space G through the channel, but may only be supplied to the reaction space R above the substrate 5. That is, the inert gas introduced in the separate space G may prevent the source gas and the reaction gas from being introduced into the separate space G during the deposition of the thin film. As such, the deposition on the rear surface of the substrate 5 may be reduced.

In order to reduce the pressure difference between the reaction space R and the separate space G, the separate space G may be filled with the inert gas when the thin film deposition process, that is, operation 1020 to operation 1060, is performed. To do this, the pre-process may be performed as described above. In addition, the channel may be large in length and/or may have a complicated structure. As the channel length increases and/or the channel has complicated structure, it is difficult for the gas introduced in the separate space G to be discharged back to the reaction space R. Also, the channel may have a tapering structure (X2 of FIG. 7D) towards the separate space G, so that the gas introduced in the separate space G through the channel may not be introduced back again into the reaction space R.

When a thin film having a desired thickness is not obtained (‘No’ to operation 1070), operation 1020 to operation 1060 are repeatedly performed, and when a thin film having a desired thickness is obtained (‘Yes’ to operation 1070), the thin film deposition process is terminated, and in operation 1080, the substrate 5 is unloaded from the substrate supporting apparatus. When unloading the substrate in operation 1080, the substrate supporting apparatus is descended by the elevating device, and the substrate conveying arm (not shown) may unload the substrate 5 from the reactor through a gap or entrance formed between the reactor wall 39 and the substrate supporting apparatus.

In the substrate processing method according to the embodiment, the pre-process is performed to fill the inert gas in the space under the rear surface of the substrate 5 through one or more channels (e.g., grooves or through holes) of the ECS, and the pressure difference between the spaces above and under the substrate 5 may be reduced during the process. As such, the substrate loaded on the substrate supporting apparatus may be stably loaded regardless of the variation in the pressure of the reaction space, and the deposition on the rear surface of the substrate may be reduced.

FIG. 11 shows a comparison between thicknesses of SiO₂ layers formed on a rear surface of a substrate due to a processing gas infiltrating to the rear surface of the substrate, when the substrate processing method of FIG. 10 is performed by using the substrate processing apparatus of FIGS. 5A to 5C (in a case where there is a groove connecting the reaction space to the separate space) and when the substrate processing method of FIG. 10 is performed by using a substrate processing apparatus according to the related art (in a case where there is no channel connecting the reaction space to the separate space). In the present embodiment, a thickness of a thin film deposited on a region Z1 from an edge to 1 mm inward on the rear surface of FIG. 12 was measured.

In FIG. 11, a transverse axis denotes whether there is a groove. “With groove” denotes the case of using the substrate processing apparatus of FIGS. 5A to 5C. “No groove” denotes the case of using a substrate processing apparatus according to the related art. A longitudinal axis of a graph denotes a thickness of thin film formed on the rear surface of the substrate.

Referring to FIG. 11, when the substrate processing apparatus according to the related art is used, a thin film having a thickness of 555 Å was formed at a measured region (Z1 of FIG. 12), but when the substrate processing apparatus according to the embodiment is used, a thin film having a thickness of 166 Å was formed. From the above comparison result, the deposition on the rear surface is greatly reduced compared to a case where the substrate processing apparatus according to the related art is used, when the substrate processing apparatus according to the present disclosure is used (in this case, reduced by about 70%). This is because the inert gas is filled in the space under the rear surface of the substrate to reduce the pressure difference between the spaces above and under the substrate during the process, and thus the dislocation of the substrate from the reaction space is prevented.

In the present specification, a standard silicon wafer is described as an example, but the substrate supporting apparatus according to the present disclosure may be used to support other kinds of substrates such as a glass substrate that undergoes such treatments as CVD, physical vapor deposition (PVD), etching, annealing, impurity dispersion, photolithography, etc.

The foregoing is illustrative of exemplary embodiments and is not to be construed as limiting thereof. Although a few exemplary embodiments have been described, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings of the present disclosure.

Various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been just exemplarily described, and various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.

According to the embodiments, the inner portion of the substrate supporting apparatus and the substrate are spaced apart by a predetermined distance from each other to form a separate space, and the inert gas is introduced to the separate space before the thin film deposition process. Thus, the pressure difference between the reaction space and the separate space may be reduced to perform the processes stably. Also, according to the present disclosure, a pressure imbalance between the reaction space and the separate space is reduced, and thus, the substrate may be stably loaded on the substrate supporting apparatus, and deposition on the rear surface of the substrate due to the infiltration of the processing gas may be prevented.

It should be understood that embodiments described herein should be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Descriptions of features or aspects within each embodiment should typically be considered as available for other similar features or aspects in other embodiments.

While one or more embodiments have been described with reference to the figures, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A substrate processing method comprising: providing a substrate within a substrate supporting apparatus; supplying an inert gas within the substrate supporting apparatus; and depositing a thin film onto the substrate by sequentially and repeatedly supplying a source gas, supplying a reaction gas, and activating the reaction gas within the substrate supporting apparatus, wherein the substrate supporting apparatus comprises: a susceptor main body comprising an inner portion, a periphery portion, and a concave portion between the inner portion and the periphery portion; and a rim arranged in the concave portion, wherein, when the substrate is mounted on the rim, the rim contacts the substrate within an edge exclusion zone of the substrate, an upper surface of the inner portion is lower than an upper surface of the rim to make a rear surface of the substrate spaced apart from the inner portion, a first space is formed between the rear surface of the substrate and the inner portion, a second space is formed above the substrate, and one or more channels are formed in at least one of the susceptor main body and the rim, the one or more channels connecting the first space to the second space separately or together with one another, wherein the inert gas is supplied from the second space to the first space through the one or more channels before depositing the thin film, and wherein the inert gas prevents pressure imbalance between the first space and the second space during the deposition of the thin film.
 2. The substrate processing method of claim 1, wherein the one or more channels are provided between an inner wall and an outer wall of the rim, and the one or more channels are arranged along a circumference that is separate from a center of the substrate supporting apparatus by a first distance.
 3. The substrate processing method of claim 2, wherein the first distance is greater than a radius of the substrate.
 4. The substrate processing method of claim 1, wherein the one or more channels are symmetrically arranged about a center axis of the substrate supporting apparatus.
 5. The substrate processing method of claim 1, wherein the one or more channels comprise a first sub-channel and a second sub-channel, the first sub-channel is a through hole which contacts an upper surface of the rim and thus communicates with the second space and extends toward a lower portion of the rim by penetrating through the rim, and the substrate is not in contact with the first sub-channel.
 6. The substrate processing method of claim 5, wherein the second sub-channel of the one or more channels communicates with the first space, and the second sub-channel has a structure tapered towards the first space.
 7. The substrate processing method of claim 5, wherein the second sub-channel of the one or more channels communicates with the first space, and the second sub-channel is provided in a circumferential direction.
 8. The substrate processing method of claim 1, wherein a contact portion between the edge exclusion zone of the substrate and the rim has a ring shape that is continuously provided along a circumference that is spaced apart from a center of the substrate supporting apparatus by a predetermined distance.
 9. The substrate processing method of claim 1, wherein a portion where the one or more channels and the first space meet each other is spaced apart from a rear surface of the substrate.
 10. A substrate processing method comprising: providing a substrate within a substrate processing apparatus, supplying an inert gas within the substrate processing apparatus; and depositing a thin film by sequentially and repeatedly supplying a source gas, supplying a reaction gas, and activating the reaction gas within the substrate processing apparatus, wherein the substrate processing apparatus comprises: a reactor wall; a substrate supporting apparatus; a heater block; a gas inlet; a gas supply unit; and an exhaust unit, wherein the substrate supporting apparatus comprises a susceptor main body and a rim, wherein the susceptor main body comprises an inner portion, a periphery portion, and a concave portion between the inner portion and the periphery portion, and wherein the rim is arranged on the concave portion, wherein, when a substrate is mounted on the rim, the rim contacts the substrate within an edge exclusion zone of the substrate, the reactor wall and the periphery portion of the substrate supporting apparatus form a reaction space through face-contact, a separate space is formed between the inner portion and the substrate, and the reaction space and the separate space communicate with each other through one or more channels, wherein the inert gas is supplied from the reaction space to the separate space through the one or more channels before depositing the thin film, and wherein the inert gas prevents pressure imbalance between the reaction space and the separate space during the deposition of the thin film.
 11. The substrate processing method of claim 10, wherein the one or more channels comprise a first sub-channel and a second sub-channel, wherein the first sub-channel is provided on a surface or an inner portion of the reactor wall to communicate with the reaction space above the substrate, wherein the second sub-channel is provided on a surface or an inner portion of at least one of the susceptor main body and the rim to communicate with the separate space, and wherein the first sub-channel communicates with the separate space via the second sub-channel.
 12. The substrate processing method of claim 11, wherein each of the first sub-channel and the second sub-channel comprises a through hole or a groove.
 13. The substrate processing method of claim 10, wherein the one or more channels comprise a first sub-channel and a second sub-channel, wherein the first sub-channel is provided on a surface or an inner portion of the rim to communicate with the reaction space, wherein the second sub-channel is provided in at least one of the susceptor main body and the rim to communicate with the separate space, and wherein the first sub-channel communicates with the separate space via the second sub-channel.
 14. The substrate processing method of claim 10, wherein the one or more channels have a structure tapered towards the separate space.
 15. The substrate processing method of claim 13, wherein the first sub-channel comprises one or more first through holes penetrating through at least a part of the rim, wherein the one or more first through holes are spaced apart from one another along a first circumference having a first radius on an upper surface of the rim, and wherein the first radius is greater than a radius of the substrate.
 16. A substrate processing method comprising: supplying an inert gas; and depositing a thin film by sequentially and repeatedly supplying a source gas, supplying a reaction gas, and activating the reaction gas, wherein a center portion of a substrate and a center portion of a susceptor are spaced apart from each other to form a separate space, the reaction space above the substrate and the separate space communicate with each other via one or more channels, the inert gas is introduced to the separate space through the one or more channels during the supplying of the inert gas, and the introduced inert gas prevents pressure imbalance between the separate space and the reaction space during the deposition of the thin film.
 17. The substrate processing method of claim 16, wherein a thickness of a film deposited on a rear surface of the substrate during the deposition of the thin film is controlled by controlling a flow rate of the inert gas introduced into the separate space.
 18. The substrate processing method of claim 16, wherein a purge gas is supplied during the deposition of the thin film, and a flow rate of the purge gas supplied during the deposition of the thin film is adjusted to make a pressure in the separate space and a pressure in the reaction space be equal to each other.
 19. The substrate processing method of claim 16, wherein the introduced inert gas prevents the source gas and the reaction gas from being introduced into the separate space during the deposition of the thin film. 